Nah, as usual it was an inappropriate speed for the prevailing circumstances.No matter the speed and no matter the circumstances, I was unable to stop in time.The accident was thus actually my own fault.Then again, all accidents are the bikers fault - we all know the risk and still choose to ride.Thank god I have some savings, proper medical aid and proper insurance. Without those 3, this could be a very different story.

Honest post! In my case, all bar one of my accidents could have been avoided by me either going slower or actually looking where I was going. The one case, where a driver simply pulled out in front of me

because he is, as a European, used to look the other way for traffic, taught me instantaneously to also consider all cars stationary at junctions as about to pull away.

Quite frankly, al the videos shown is avoidable cases, even though the drivers drive like idiots.

This is not only a South African phenomenon – unfortunately all the mentioned “misdemeanours’ happen in most other countries.

Living in northern Italy – first just south of Milan and now in South Tirol one sees people not stopping at stop streets and driving through red traffic lights. In Milan I used to sh*t myself every time I came to an intersection, as I knew people would not stop at their stop sign or come through a red traffic light and just about take one out if one was not anticipating it. (Most cars in Italy have dents and scrape marks).

Texting while driving happens here, in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark – all countries I have driven through, and results in some horrific collisions especially on the expressways (Autobahns and Autostradas). These then cause huge traffic jams stretching for 15 – 20kms, and take hours to free-up. Often, especially in Italy, the drivers are so inconsiderate that they do not allow the rescue vehicles to pass through as they block the emergency lanes, and they never form a rescue alley in a traffic jam.

Texting even occurs on bicycles and by pedestrians while crossing busy roads!

The Brenner Pass from Austria to Italy was closed for hours on Friday as a motorcyclist seems to have been distracted and drove into the back of a slow moving car at the end of a traffic jam. He travelled through the back window and front windscreen of the car and lost his life.

There are fines (and points removed) for all of these offences, but unfortunately, like in SA, they are not well policed and fined.

So one just has to try to drive defensively and try to avoid the road rage that is also universal, but luckily there are fewer firearms in most of Europe.

This is not only a South African phenomenon – unfortunately all the mentioned “misdemeanours’ happen in most other countries.

Living in northern Italy – first just south of Milan and now in South Tirol one sees people not stopping at stop streets and driving through red traffic lights. In Milan I used to sh*t myself every time I came to an intersection, as I knew people would not stop at their stop sign or come through a red traffic light and just about take one out if one was not anticipating it. (Most cars in Italy have dents and scrape marks).

Texting while driving happens here, in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark – all countries I have driven through, and results in some horrific collisions especially on the expressways (Autobahns and Autostradas). These then cause huge traffic jams stretching for 15 – 20kms, and take hours to free-up. Often, especially in Italy, the drivers are so inconsiderate that they do not allow the rescue vehicles to pass through as they block the emergency lanes, and they never form a rescue alley in a traffic jam.

Texting even occurs on bicycles and by pedestrians while crossing busy roads!

The Brenner Pass from Austria to Italy was closed for hours on Friday as a motorcyclist seems to have been distracted and drove into the back of a slow moving car at the end of a traffic jam. He travelled through the back window and front windscreen of the car and lost his life.

There are fines (and points removed) for all of these offences, but unfortunately, like in SA, they are not well policed and fined.

So one just has to try to drive defensively and try to avoid the road rage that is also universal, but luckily there are fewer firearms in most of Europe.

Years of commuting through central London everyday taught me not to even waste my time wearing hi-viz or press the horn button never mind getting upset or angry. You just adjust your riding and assume everyone is out to get you and anticipate random surprises out of nowhere I lost count how many times I got hold up filtering on embankment next to the Thames only to get to a point where it is a girl on her Vespa texting in a nice little summer dress and high heels whilst filtering

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Absolutely true that! Just come back from Europe and Russia, and especially in the latter country drivers behave, even give bikers space hence a chance.But, the Police are not to be messed with, and cameras galore means perpetrators will learn the hard way of they do not follows the rules of the road - which are there for all, not only bikes or taxis or whatnot.Enforce the rules and people will behave, quite simple really!